Page 39 of Minha Dona

Helena reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind Caitlin’s ear. “I’m not sure I ever want to go nine minutes without that again, let alone nine months.”

Caitlin laughed. “That might make my session on adoption of modern data environments awkward for everyone else in the room.”

“Fuck them. You just sit at a table to do it and I’ll hide underneath. You can pretend that it’s a topic that really, really excites you.”

“The orgasmic benefits of building a data pipeline… you might be on to something there.”

Chapter 14

Helena woke to Caitlin’s lips on her neck and the insistent beeping of a phone alarm somewhere in the depths of her room… possibly hers.

“What time is it?” Helena mumbled, not opening her eyes, reaching instinctively for the warm body next to her.

“Six fifteen.” Caitlin’s voice was close, her breath warm against Helena’s skin. “Breakfast from seven. First session at eight-thirty.”

“Forty-five minutes.”

“Forty-five minutes, minus getting back to my room, showering, changing, drying my hair, doing my makeup, and looking like a partner rather than someone who’s had four hours’ sleep.” Caitlin kissed Helena’s neck again. “So realistically we have about fifteen minutes.”

Helena opened her eyes. The Miami morning was bright through the curtains, the room around them showing very clearly what had happened during the night… clothes on the floor, bathrobe belts still attached to the bed frame, not to mention, of course, a very naked and clearly very awake Caitlin in her bed.

Caitlin was propped on one elbow, looking down at Helena. Her hair was a mess, her makeup smudged… she looked thoroughly debauched and thoroughly happy.

“Fifteen minutes,” Helena repeated. “I can work with fifteen minutes.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

Helena rolled Caitlin onto her back and kissed her, morning breath and all, and felt Caitlin’s legs part to let Helena do what she did well. No preamble, no teasing… they didn’t have the luxury of it. Helena’s hand slipped between Caitlin’s thighs and found her already more than ready for her.

“Fast,” Caitlin whispered against her lips. “We don’t have time for slow.”

“Since when do you give the orders, Gatinha?”

“Since we have fifteen minutes and I need very badly to orgasm before I can face a room full of partners.” Caitlin’s grin was both wicked and impatient. “Please, Minha Dona.”

Helena laughed and kissed her again, her fingers finding their rhythm. Fast, she could do fast… and so, it seemed, could Caitlin, her own hand finding Helena and starting to work at her too.

It should have felt rushed. Instead it felt exhilarating… stolen time, the two of them grabbing what they could before the world demanded them back.

It turned out they didn’t need fifteen minutes, more like five. Caitlin came fast, and Helena could tell her pleasure was genuine, there was no faking the way her body tightened around her fingers, and knowing the effect she was having on Caitlin was all that Helena needed, her own climax rolling through her less than a minute later.

Nothing like the intensity of the night before, sure, but as a start to the day… perfeita.

Caitlin kissed her. “Can I borrow something casual to wear back to my room?” She gestured towards her discarded dress. “I can’t help thinking it would set tongues wagging if I wore that and someone saw me.”

“Gladly.” Helena leaned over and kissed Caitlin once more, fighting the temptation to simply stay there and never mind the conference, before she got out of bed and pulled a pair of lycra gym shorts and a vest top out of her suitcase, along with a pair of running shoes. “Will these do?”

“Definitely.” Caitlin was up and moving, and Helena remembered how efficient Caitlin was with work… never late, always on top of everything. The force of nature in action. She was dressed quickly, finger-combing her hair in Helena’s bathroom mirror and grimacing at the result.

“I look like I’ve been doing exactly what I’ve been doing.”

“You look beautiful.”

“I look like I need my own shower and my own hairdryer.” But she was smiling. She came back and stood in front of Helena, who had climbed back into bed, and leaned down to kiss her forehead. “Sit together at breakfast?”

“Definitely, but arrive separately. We’re colleagues catching up at a conference. Nothing more.”

“Nothing more.” Caitlin touched the necklace briefly, an unconscious gesture, Helena thought, though with Caitlin you could never be entirely sure. “See you down there. Half an hour.”